Baseball: Ozzie Guillen suspended for praising Castro

Mea culpa: Miami Marlins manager <b>Ozzie Guillen</b> apologized at a news conference Tuesday for remarks he made in an interview praising retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro. "I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened," he said. <b>Click the photo</b> to read more about the heat he's taking, whether it was justified, the reaction in Miami, and Guillen's past indelicate remarks.PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Mea culpa: Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen apologized at a news conference Tuesday for remarks he made in an interview praising retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro. "I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened," he said. Click the photo to read more about the heat he's taking, whether it was justified, the reaction in Miami, and Guillen's past indelicate remarks.

Mea culpa: Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen apologized at a news conference Tuesday for remarks he made in an interview praising retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro. "I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened," he said. Click the photo to read more about the heat he's taking, whether it was justified, the reaction in Miami, and Guillen's past indelicate remarks. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Many Cuban-Americans in Miami, some of whom suffered under Castro's communist dictatorship before fleeing Cuba, were outraged by Guillen's comments, and they want the Marlins to go beyond their five-game suspension of the manager. About 100 protesters showed up outside Marlins Park and demanded Guillen be fired.

So what exactly did Guillen say? Keep clicking. PHOTO BY ROBERTO KOLTUN, EL NUEVO HERALD, VIA AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen, in his first year as the Marlins' skipper, is all smiles Monday as the team opens a four-game series at Philadelphia. But that same day, Time magazine published a story about Guillen and the Marlins that begins with this quote from Guillen: "I love Fidel Castro." Oops. PHOTO BY ALEX BRANDON, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCastro, of course, seized power in Cuba during a revolution in 1959 and remained its leader until 2008, when he stepped down and turned over the office to his brother Raul. Here he is in 1979, speaking at the United Nations.

Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission, said: “Mr. Guillen's admiration for a dictator who has destroyed the lives of so many and who has violated the basic human rights of millions is shameful." AP FILE PHOTO; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen claims he was misinterpreted by the Time reporter, Sean Gregory, although Guillen did not blame Gregory directly. "I don't want to make excuses," Guillen said. "But I meant that I was surprised Fidel Castro stayed in power so long. That's what was missing in the translation. … I'm not saying the journalist was wrong. I was wrong. I was thinking in Spanish and I said it wrong in English."

But it's not the first time Guillen has praised a Latin American leader despised by many Americans. In 2005 Guillen, who's from Venezuela, twice appeared on a radio show hosted by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, a Socialist, seen here with Castro in 2011. "Not too many people like the president. I do," Guillen said at the time. Read more: http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2012/04/10/ozzie-guillen-marlins-suspended-fidel-castro/#ixzz1rffOdFoS AP FILE PHOTO; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Time story also wasn't the first instance of Guillen praising Castro. "Who's the toughest man you know?" Guillen said Castro. " ... everybody's against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him. Everywhere he goes they roll out the red carpet. I don't admire his philosophy. I admire him."

Predictably, Cuban-Americans were incensed. Here are a few protesters on Tuesday, the day of the news conference. Read more: http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2012/04/10/ozzie-guillen-marlins-suspended-fidel-castro/#ixzz1rfgbh6py PHOTO BY ROBERTO KOLTUN, EL NUEVO; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
You don't need to understand Spanish to know the mood of the crowd outside Marlins Park on Tuesday. Not when the word "idiota" is in red letters. PHOTO BY MIKE EHRMANN, GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Does freedom of speech extend to baseball, or doesn't it? Even if Guillen was quoted correctly, his crime seems to be more one of tact, or the lack of it. Marlins Park is in the heart of Little Havana, and the team had been hoping that support from Cuban-Americans -- along with the splashy new stadium -- could rejuvenate interest in a team that has not always been popular in South Florida. PHOTO BY WALTER MICHOT, THE MIAMI HERALD; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen also has defended illegal immigrants in the past, so he's no stranger to controversial beliefs. But his latest Castro remarks put him over the line with many Marlins fans. The team is standing by him, but for how long? Keep clicking to read what Guillen said to try to placate the community. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen had been in Philadelphia for the Marlins' series against the Phillies, but as the controversy swelled, he flew back to Miami for Tuesday's news conference. Dozens of members of the media showed up. Guillen spoke Spanish for about 80 percent of the newser, which lasted nearly an hour.

"I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened. ... I will do everything in my power to make it better. ... I know it's going to be a very bumpy ride." PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen said he'd been suspended without pay for five games, and that bench coach Joey Cora would manage the club in his absence. "I think fixing my problem with my community is more important to me than the suspension and money," Guillen said. The team later said that his salary for the games would be donated to charity. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ, THE MIAMI HERALD; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Whenever you have to use "air quotes" with your fingers to explain what you said, you know you're in trouble. Keep clicking to see a gallery of Guillen's expressions during the news conference. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ, THE MIAMI HERALD; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Bemused Ozzie. Comes in handy when there's a question you find ridiculous. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Super-contrite Ozzie. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP
Somewhat defiant Ozzie. But still contrite. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP
Pained Ozzie. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP
Exhausted Ozzie. PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP
How tight is that collar feeling, Marlins president David Samson? The team says there will be no further punishment of Guillen. "We believe in him," Samson said, according to AP. "We believe in his apology. We believe everybody deserves a second chance. Politics are a conversation I don't think you're going to be hearing more about from Ozzie." PHOTO BY LYNNE SLADKY, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Let's go into the Wayback Machine now to examine Guillen's career as a player and manager. He was the White Sox shortstop for 13 seasons, from 1985 through 1997. Here he is avoiding the slide by the Angels' Jim Edmonds on a double play on April 6, 1996 at the Big A. FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS MARTINEZ, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen had a lifetime batting average of .287 and 1,764 hits in 16 big-league seasons, and he became a coach for the Montreal Expos in 2001. He later coached for the Marlins before being hired as the White Sox manager in 2003. Before he took over, the ChiSox had not won a World Series title since 1917, but they captured the championship in 2005, his second year as manager. They swept the Houston Astros in four games. FILE PHOTO BY MARK J. TERRILL, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The victory in Game 4 set off a historic celebration at New Comiskey. Oops, I mean U.S. Cellular Field. Everyone got a little giddy. Here Guillen gets a kiss from a jubilant well-wisher. FILE PHOTO BY JEFF ROBERSON, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen celebrated with the World Series trophy, as well as the Venezuelan flag. He took great pride in being the first Latin American manager to lead his team to a title. FILE PHOTO BY M. SPENCER GREEN, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen has always shot from the lip, however; and when his managing days are over, his series of blowups, insults and tantrums will be part of his career obituary. In February 2005, when White Sox star Magglio Ordonez signed a big free-agent contract with Detroit, Guillen, a former teammate of Ordonez's, went off, calling him a piece of something we can't even mention here. FILE PHOTO BY CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guillen also once called a Chicago sportswriter a gay slur after the writer, Jay Marriotti, questioned Ozzie for berating one of his own players who didn't retaliate against an opposing hitter. It all ended in 2011, when Guillen left the ChiSox with teo games remaining in the season for greener pastures in Miami. "Regrets? No, I don't have any regrets," he said. PHOTO BY DREW HALLOWELL, GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Will the Guillen episode harm the Marlins' outreach? They're playing in a spanking-new, colorful ballyard, Marlins Park, and time will tell whether Marlins fans -- and Latinos and Latinas -- forgive him and the team. PHOTO BY WILFREDO LEE, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
More importantly, what will the Brazilian showgirls performing near the swimming poll (no diving!) at Marlins Park think? PHOTO BY WILFREDO LEE, AP; TEXT BY LANDON HALL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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